Transparently Speaking

Send us Fan Mail In this special Pride Month episode, Diana and Joy share their third annual letter to LGBTQIA+ youth, families, and allies. In a year marked by escalating attacks on transgender and queer youth, they offer solidarity and support and speak to the fear, the grief, and the fierce love that define this moment.  Pride is more than celebration — it’s resistance, resilience, and communit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joy shares updates from her daughter’s recent endocrine visit—including conversations about hormone levels, breast development, and timing for potential surgeries. She also reflects on a powerful session with a legal coach that shifted how she understands disclosure, identity, and what it means to legally and medically define sex. Together, Joy and Diana explore h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana receives an SOS call from Clark and cancels her commitments to travel and support him.  This episode explores Diana's approach to supporting him, and the layered frustration and fear resulting from our current sociopolitical environment.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a rev...

Send us Fan Mail From a hard-won court victory to the uncertainty of college athletics, this episode moves through triumph, fear, frustration, and hope. Joy shares the emotional journey of changing her daughter’s birth certificate—and the questions that remain about safety, outing, and the future of sports for transgender youth. Listen in as we explore what progress looks like when the path ahead...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode 95 of Transparently Speaking , Diana and Joy share their response to the new federal proclamation, "National Child Abuse Prevention Month," which indicates that gender affirming care is child abuse.  They also reflect on how they are choosing to show up and resist, each in their own way.   https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/national-child-...

Send us Fan Mail Spring break used to mean picking a destination based on fun and weather. Now, it involves scanning state laws and planning how to stay safe in public spaces. In this episode, we talk about how political shifts are changing everyday decisions for families with transgender kids—and how we try to hold onto joy anyway. We also share two court rulings that offer real hope. If you’re t...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy as they reflect on continued national and state level legislative efforts, specifically transgender girls in sports.  The key arguments offered by those proposing these bills are based largely on considerations of safety and fairness.  In this episode, those considerations are explored and challenged.   If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appr...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a name becomes a risk factor? In this episode, we explore the emotional toll of parenting transgender children in a time of heightened scrutiny, the delicate balance between advocacy and safety, and the exhaustion of constantly weighing the risks of visibility. How do families decide when to speak up and when to stay quiet during a child's transition? And wh...

Send us Fan Mail Diana and Joy share how they are navigating their anxiety associated with the current political environment.  Since the 47th President's inauguration there have been 4 Executive Orders focused on transgender people (youth especially).  In this episode, join us to hear how Diana is setting boundaries in offering support to other families and how she is finding space for joy, a...

Send us Fan Mail The latest executive order banning gender-affirming care for anyone under 19 has sent shockwaves through families with transgender children. In this episode of Transparently Speaking , Diana and Joy share their raw and honest reactions—from shock and anger to the looming fear of what comes next. How will this order impact hospitals, physicians, and the future of care for trans you...

Send us Fan Mail As the inauguration looms less than a week away, Diana and Joy reflect on their biggest fears and how they are currently thinking and preparing to face challenges.  After this recording was complete, the House Bill, "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act" passed 218-206; if passed into law, this legislation would amend Title IX to ban transgender girls and women fr...

Send us Fan Mail As January 20th approaches, many families with transgender children face uncertainty, fear, and the need to prepare for possible changes. In this episode, Diana and Joy discuss the steps they’ve taken to safeguard their children, including creating safe folders, updating documents, and navigating the current political climate. They also reflect on the emotional toll of recent even...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 87, Joy and Diana share key updates, including: Clark's first vote, Samanta's doctor's response to insurance denial and final decisions, navigating an inadvertent sharing of Samantha's medical procedure, and ongoing challenges with preferred names and pronouns at the Children's hospital.  If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d ap...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Diana & Joy reflect on Diana's recent conversation with Clark from episode 83, offering an intimate look into her journey as a parent of a transgender young adult. From the wisdom Clark shared about navigating disclosure and safety to the bittersweet experience of letting go as a parent, this episode explores the complexities of growth, identity...

Send us Fan Mail Following the 2024 Presidential election, Diana and Joy reflect on the results and share insights about their families' personal reactions and responses upon learning that Trump will be president in 2025.  The discussion includes a reflection upon biggest concerns and how they are navigating next steps.  Resources mentioned include a reference to Erin Reed's "Erin i...

Send us Fan Mail In the lead-up to Election Day, Diana and Joy discuss the escalating impact of political misinformation—particularly surrounding transgender rights. With personal stories and clear-eyed insights, they explore the emotional toll of anti-trans rhetoric in media, the role of misinformation in shaping public perception, and the essential need to vote. This episode is a call to action,...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode of Transparently Speaking , we have a first-time guest: Clark. After sharing stories about him for so long, we are excited to present Clark's own voice as he opens up about his transition journey, his identity, and his thoughts on the challenges and triumphs he’s faced. Clark reflects on his childhood, discusses navigating life as a transgender man, an...

Send us Fan Mail We're excited to invite Sophie back in Episode 82.  Join Joy and Sophie in exploring parental roles and responsibilities in communicating preferred pronouns and navigating extended family understanding (in Alex’s case, in advance of a 1:1 ten day trip with their Aunt, who doesn’t yet know Alex is nonbinary). Also, in this episode, Sophie names her (and our generation’s) chall...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joy and Diana discuss the unexpected cancellation of a conference for families with transgender and non-binary children. Five days before it was set to occur, the conference was called off for security reasons.  They explore the implications of this disruption, the emotional and physical safety concerns it raised, and the broader societal context impacting transge...

Send us Fan Mail Diana shares a specific challenge she's facing as she discovers an organization she enjoys working with is not currently open to conversation around gender identity.  Join us in Episode #80 as Diana and Joy explore how values drive boundaries and influence the ways in which we choose to engage.    If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d t...

Send us Fan Mail Join Diana and Joy as they discuss the ongoing journey of supporting Samantha, a transgender athlete, in youth sports. This episode explores the importance of maintaining Samantha's privacy while ensuring her right to play. Hear their insights and correspondence with regional authorities to navigate these evolving policies. If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode #78 we welcome a new voice and storyline to share another family's journey as they support their non-binary child.  Joy introduces her friend Sophie, whose child recently named their pronouns as "they/ them."    If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to provide us with a review; the more listeners and r...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Diana shares a recent incident involving Clark with an organization they previously had to educate to ensure Clark’s equal rights. This new interaction sheds light on the deeper impact last year's events had on Clark and reveals that his wounds are still far from healed. Tune in to learn more about their ongoing journey in advocacy. If you want a reminder of...

Send us Fan Mail In Episode #76, Joy and Diana reflect on how gender identity (and nondisclosure of gender identity) has influenced their thinking about who, when and how their kids might spend an overnight with others.  Join us to hear a broader reflection on sexuality and how we navigate the topic for our cisgender kids, too! If you’re taking something away from our podcast, we’d appreciate it i...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Joy and Diana discuss how their approach to managing summer activities has evolved since their children first transitioned. They explore the challenges and strategies related to their children using gendered facilities, such as bathrooms and locker rooms, and share their experiences navigating summer camps. Additionally, they reflect on how their decisions regardi...